Zlatan: Rashford's Time Will Come

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has preached patience when it comes to expectations surrounding Marcus Rashford, even though the experienced striker admits there will come a time when the youngster "will take over everything."

The 18-year-old's story so far has been a quite remarkable one. Two goals on his first-team debut, two more on his Premier League bow, a Manchester derby winner last season, a goal in his first game for England’s senior side, a place in the Euro 2016 squad and a hat-trick on his England Under-21s debut.

After entering the fray as a second-half substitute on Saturday, Rashford was only denied an equaliser against City when his shot deflected in off the Swede who, unfortunately, was in an offside position.

As one of the most decorated players in the game today, Ibrahimovic knows quality when he sees it and, in an interview with MUTV, he talked about the quality he witnesses every day from Rashford, who, he says, has plenty of time on his side.

"First of all, he’s 18, he’s still young. He has a lot of time," declared the Swedish forward.

"I think the way you have to approach a player like that, where everyone is talking about the talent and what he’s able to do and what kind of potential he has, is to remember he still has a lot of time. It’s not like he needs to take over the world today, the club knows that, the coach knows that and the team knows that.

"We know his quality and what he’s able to do. What the world is seeing now, we already know because we see it every day. There is no need to rush to push him and put him in the heat zone and put a lot of pressure on him because that can have the opposite effect. Time by time, he will take over everything. It’s about having patience."

Ibrahimovic added that he will do all he can to support Rashford, insisting: "I’ll help him every day, him and all the others, in any way I can. I’m happy it gives an effect but, even if I was not here, they would still do good."